People without type 2 diabetes but with high blood sugar performed worse when they took memory tests than people with lower levels of blood sugar revealed a study this week.
Researchers from Germany used 141 people whose average age was 63 and all did not have pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes and did not show any signs of memory problems.
The participants in the study took a series of tests dealing with memory and their blood sugar was tested. They had brain scans that measured their hippocampus’ size. This area plays an important part in an individual’s memory.
Researchers said they correlated the levels of long-term blood sugar with the amount of words people were able to recall on a test.
The researchers found that higher levels of long-term blood sugar went together with recalling fewer words. The researchers also found that those individuals with blood-sugar levels that were higher had hippocampus’ that had smaller sizes.
The findings, said researchers suggest that for people in the normal range for blood sugar, reducing the level might be a way to prevent problems with memory, as they get older.
The lead researcher pointed out that the study was small and did not prove a cause and effect. However, the researcher said that large clinical studies to test if lowering the glucose level will help prevent dementia are needed.
A member of the Alzheimer’s Association said if something happens to the ability of the body to regulate its glucose levels, the brain cannot work the best it should.
If the glucose is not properly functioning, it could affect brain health and function over a long period of time, said a research scientist with Kaiser Permanente.